you.”
“Love you, too.”
They hung up, but before Caroline could start the car, a text came through from Piper.
MICHAEL TOLD ME HE GAVE JACE PETE’S NUMBER! WHAT’S GOING ON WITH U? HAVE TO KNOW.
Caroline contemplated lying, but she couldn’t. It wasn’t like Piper and Michael wouldn’t find out. Caroline had seen Piper only one time since their sushi lunch a few weeks ago, but sex hadn’t come up—and Caroline had been relieved. Now it was time to face the frying pan.
WE’RE MEETING THEM FOR DINNER ON FRI. JUST DINNER!
Caroline hit send and leaned back against the headrest.
Three dots popped up, indicating Piper was typing.
DINNER IS GREAT! HAPPY FOR BOTH OF U. MUST MEET ON SAT. TO DISCUSS/DECOMPRESS! NOT TAKING NO FOR AN ANSWER.
Caroline made a snap decision.
HOW ABOUT YOU COME OVER AROUND 7 ON FRI? I MAY NEED A LITTLE COUNSELING B4 THE MEET.
Piper texted back.
I’LL BE THERE. WILL BRING VODKA.
Caroline answered.
MAKE IT TEQUILA.
Piper wasted no time replying.
THE LIMES AND SALT ARE ALREADY PACKED. SEE U THEN!
Caroline tossed her phone back into her purse and gripped the wheel hard. What in the world had happened to her life in such a short amount of time? A few weeks ago it had been totally normal—a little on the boring side—but healthy and happy. Now? A deep, dark ocean of panic roiled inside her chest, threatening to pull her under. Was she really willing to throw all that normal and happy away for one night of hot sex to fulfill a fantasy she’d never known she craved?
Doubt began to fill her, to the point of overwhelming her. Her head spun, and she got lightheaded. She let go of the wheel and took quick short breaths to calm herself down. “You can always back out,” she murmured to herself. “It hasn’t happened yet. You can just say no.”
Yes, that was it.
She could just say no.
Ducking her head, she peered out the passenger window to see if any of her neighbors were strolling by. This street was a popular way to get to the lake. Even though it was silly, she felt dirty knowing she and Jace were going to have dinner with known swingers. “You are so incredibly Southern,” she said to herself out loud.
Even if people saw her parked here, they wouldn’t care. Most Midwesterners would assume you had a good reason for pulling over, like talking on the phone or addressing an envelope on the way to the post office. They wouldn’t jump to the conclusion that something nefarious was going on, like cheating on your husband.
But it wasn’t really cheating, if he was there.
Or was it?
“ Argh !” She shook the wheel in vain, her body moving instead. “Good Lord, this is making me a crazy person who talks to herself in the car!”
She started the engine and edged away from the curb. She wasn’t going to solve anything sitting here. It was time to go home.
Where she could obsess in peace.
* * *
“You look bangin’,” Piper told her. “And I mean that in a totally innocent…okay, not -so-innocent kind of way. Honestly, you look amazing. The black sheath at the knee is perfect. It says classy and sophisticated, yet also adventurous. They’re going to love you guys. You need to relax. Here, take another shot.” Piper held a shot glass out to Caroline. “You look like you could use it.”
This was the fourth outfit Caroline had tried on for Piper.
Jace was done getting ready and patiently waiting for her to finish downstairs. He knew she needed this time with her best friend. She took the proffered shot glass from her and walked over to the vanity, where a saltshaker and a wedge of lime were laid out. “This is the last one, Piper. If I have another, I won’t be able to form a coherent sentence once I get there.”
“Incoherent works,” Piper chirped from her perch on the closed toilet seat, legs crossed. “It’s not like you’re going to debate world peace. You’re going to be chatting about light topics, just to get to know each other. Everyone wants
“Love you, too.”
They hung up, but before Caroline could start the car, a text came through from Piper.
MICHAEL TOLD ME HE GAVE JACE PETE’S NUMBER! WHAT’S GOING ON WITH U? HAVE TO KNOW.
Caroline contemplated lying, but she couldn’t. It wasn’t like Piper and Michael wouldn’t find out. Caroline had seen Piper only one time since their sushi lunch a few weeks ago, but sex hadn’t come up—and Caroline had been relieved. Now it was time to face the frying pan.
WE’RE MEETING THEM FOR DINNER ON FRI. JUST DINNER!
Caroline hit send and leaned back against the headrest.
Three dots popped up, indicating Piper was typing.
DINNER IS GREAT! HAPPY FOR BOTH OF U. MUST MEET ON SAT. TO DISCUSS/DECOMPRESS! NOT TAKING NO FOR AN ANSWER.
Caroline made a snap decision.
HOW ABOUT YOU COME OVER AROUND 7 ON FRI? I MAY NEED A LITTLE COUNSELING B4 THE MEET.
Piper texted back.
I’LL BE THERE. WILL BRING VODKA.
Caroline answered.
MAKE IT TEQUILA.
Piper wasted no time replying.
THE LIMES AND SALT ARE ALREADY PACKED. SEE U THEN!
Caroline tossed her phone back into her purse and gripped the wheel hard. What in the world had happened to her life in such a short amount of time? A few weeks ago it had been totally normal—a little on the boring side—but healthy and happy. Now? A deep, dark ocean of panic roiled inside her chest, threatening to pull her under. Was she really willing to throw all that normal and happy away for one night of hot sex to fulfill a fantasy she’d never known she craved?
Doubt began to fill her, to the point of overwhelming her. Her head spun, and she got lightheaded. She let go of the wheel and took quick short breaths to calm herself down. “You can always back out,” she murmured to herself. “It hasn’t happened yet. You can just say no.”
Yes, that was it.
She could just say no.
Ducking her head, she peered out the passenger window to see if any of her neighbors were strolling by. This street was a popular way to get to the lake. Even though it was silly, she felt dirty knowing she and Jace were going to have dinner with known swingers. “You are so incredibly Southern,” she said to herself out loud.
Even if people saw her parked here, they wouldn’t care. Most Midwesterners would assume you had a good reason for pulling over, like talking on the phone or addressing an envelope on the way to the post office. They wouldn’t jump to the conclusion that something nefarious was going on, like cheating on your husband.
But it wasn’t really cheating, if he was there.
Or was it?
“ Argh !” She shook the wheel in vain, her body moving instead. “Good Lord, this is making me a crazy person who talks to herself in the car!”
She started the engine and edged away from the curb. She wasn’t going to solve anything sitting here. It was time to go home.
Where she could obsess in peace.
* * *
“You look bangin’,” Piper told her. “And I mean that in a totally innocent…okay, not -so-innocent kind of way. Honestly, you look amazing. The black sheath at the knee is perfect. It says classy and sophisticated, yet also adventurous. They’re going to love you guys. You need to relax. Here, take another shot.” Piper held a shot glass out to Caroline. “You look like you could use it.”
This was the fourth outfit Caroline had tried on for Piper.
Jace was done getting ready and patiently waiting for her to finish downstairs. He knew she needed this time with her best friend. She took the proffered shot glass from her and walked over to the vanity, where a saltshaker and a wedge of lime were laid out. “This is the last one, Piper. If I have another, I won’t be able to form a coherent sentence once I get there.”
“Incoherent works,” Piper chirped from her perch on the closed toilet seat, legs crossed. “It’s not like you’re going to debate world peace. You’re going to be chatting about light topics, just to get to know each other. Everyone wants
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